Child Freedom in Mobility to School: Measuring the Strong Factors of Choice of Mode among Parents

The research aims to examine how school children's characteristics may contribute to the choice of mode to school while testing how different neighbourhood density and design may influence the freedom to mobility. Findings indicate that children living in the denser neighbourhood are significantly associated with independent mobility to school compare to children live in a low-density neighbourhood that reported the independent mobility has considerably decreased. Children's preferences for being driven coincide with parents' fears for children safety and concern their children's ability to travel independently in an unsafe neighbourhood environment besides the school profile. Keywords: School Children, Independent Mobility, Density eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI:https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6iSI4.289

Evaluating the Shah Alam City Council Policy and Guidelines on the Hierarchy of Neighborhood Open Space

AbstractThis paper is part of a research to evaluate the existing policy and guidelines on open space used by Shah Alam City Council. The adequacy and suitability of open space is crucial as open spaces are known to be included as social needs of residents in any neighborhood area. Observation survey on the hierarchy of open space was carried out. Expert interviews were conducted and found that the current policy and guidelines for Shah Alam is adequate yet needed to be reviewed for future needs according to different types of housing, different categories of users and changing trends

Healthy Lifestyles and Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) among Urban Residents. Case Study: Sri Pahang Public Housing, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur

Unhealthy lifestyle, especially the physical inactivity, can contribute to the increase in risk for non-communicable diseases (NCD). A study was carried out at Sri Pahang Public Housing area, Kuala Lumpur. The study aimed to investigate the healthy lifestyle and the relationship with the NCD. A questionnaire survey had been carried out to collect the data. From the statistical analysis, it is found that most of the respondents were less healthy regarding their lifestyle. Half of them did not carry out their exercise regularly. The physical inactive among respondents were significantly correlated to their health condition (NCD). Keywords: Body mass index (BMI); exercise; physical activity; smoking eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bsby e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI3.256

Technology Adoption Among Town Planners in Malaysia

The integration of technology in the planning practices of the Malaysian construction industry has significantly transformed how planners approach the development process. The objective of this research is to examine the extent to which technology has been adopted in planning practices in Malaysia. To accomplish this, a mixed methods approach was used, which involved distributing an electronic survey form to the members of the Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP). The study has revealed three important findings. Firstly, for software adoption rates, the majority of respondents used basic storage, communication, CAD, graphic design, and GIS software with varying skill levels. On the other hand, hardware adoption rates were lower, likely due to financial constraints, and most respondents had average skills in operating GPS, drones, remote sensing, cloud computing, and 3D printing hardware. Secondly, the annual budget for most organisations was below RM30,000, with software subscriptions accounting for the largest budget allocation. Lastly, financial resources, a lack of skilled workers, and network constraints were identified as the biggest challenges faced by planning agencies in adopting technology. The research suggests that providing grants for technology adoption for small firms and local authorities, standardisation of systems, and flexible data sharing can increase productivity in planning activities across agencies. In summary, planners must adapt to technology due to the increasing demand for new development. Effective data management is required for decision-making. Malaysia’s government and planners are willing to adopt technology for increased productivity, and recent developments such as I-Plan and OSC 3.0 Plus Online demonstrate a commitment to data-driven decision-making. There is still much to learn and improve for planners in the public and private sectors to contribute to the success of the construction industry in Malaysia

Confronting Mental Disorder in Urban Physical Setting

Mental health issues have many causes, including the changing and unpredictable elements of the urban physical setting. Thus, this research is crucial to understand the mental health challenges of the urban population in Malaysia. Therefore, the objective of this research is to assess the magnitude of mental health outcomes and associated factors of the urban physical setting among the urban population. A study was carried out at two low-cost flats in Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, with a sample size of 102 respondents. The findings show that there is a correlation between the urban physical environment setting, particularly green spaces with mental disorders (depression, anxiety, and stress).    Keywords: urban planning; environment; mental; health.    eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer-review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. 

School Location and Factors Affecting Parents’ Mode Choice to School

This paper examines the influences of the built environment (distance between home and school) on the journey to school as a measure to promote active transportation to school. Data collected through a survey of 150 parents to represent Section 7 residents of Shah Alam, Selangor. This study shows that there is an insignificant relationship between school location and parents’ transportation mode choice. The most popular mode of transport chosen by parents was their private car compared to walking and cycling even though the distance from home to school was less than 800 meters because of a safety factor. Keywords: school travel; active transportation; school location; safety. eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bsby e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI3.257

Residents’ Well-being of a Village in a Great City. Case Study: Kampong Bharu (New Village), Kuala Lumpur City.

Urbanisation, a human settlement is growing from a village to a megacity. However, there are few cases of villages, which had been lacking behind in the trend of urbanisation. For instance, Kampong Bharu (New Village) had been maintained as a village setting even though it is located within the boundary of Kuala Lumpur city. A study has been carryout to examine the residents’ well-being of the Kampong Bharu by using a questionnaire survey and statistical analysis. In general, the well-being of villages was within a moderate level. The social and economic developments were contributed to the psychological well-being of residents. Keywords: City; correlation; quality of life; satisfaction eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI2.2523

A Bidirectional Associations between Urban Physical Environment and Mental Health: A theoretical framework

This paper examines the influence of the urban physical environment on mental health. A scoping review of reviews and a search of keywords from 109 international literatures from 1985 to 2019 conducted in a relevant database such as SCOPUS, Web of Science, and PubMed and snowballing method in the references list to get a recent paper that related. The relationship developed in the form of a theoretical framework using urban health indicators that identifies a relationship between the urban physical environment and mental health. The framework can be beneficial to the urban planning decision-makers to plan healthier and more sustainable Malaysian cities.Keywords: Urban Physical; Environment; Mental; HealtheISSN: 2398-4287 © 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v5i13.204

The Effectiveness Of Building Plan Approval. Case Study: Subang Jaya Municipal Council, Selangor

The growth of construction activities in Malaysia has given rise to the need for more statutory controls to ensure systematic and orderly development. This process of statutory approval refers to obtaining permissions from the relevant authorities to ensure the development follows the standards laid down in the building regulations and certain stages of the construction are inspected by officers from the local authority. This effort is evidenced by the improvement of mechanism delivery system of building plan process, known as One Stop Centre (OSC). In fact, the building plan and construction permit approval come as the most important stage in development as it will determine the exact date for construction to start. However, relatively little is known about the effectiveness of building plan process in the local authority. Therefore, a study has been carried out to investigate the effectiveness of building plan approval process in Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ). A questionnaires survey has been conducted to forty-seven (47) respondents from the MPSJ’s internal technical departments that involved in the process. The respondents have mostly felt that the ineffectiveness of the building plan approval process was due to the incomplete documents submitted to the OSC, lack of knowledge among the Professional Submitting Person (PSP) and the incapability of staffs in handling development applications. Hence, the findings present a synthesis of results for town planners, architects, developers and government agencies to have a better understanding of how the effective and efficient building plan process can rationalize the success of property development sector. Thus, the knowledge serves as a basis for future strategic planning decisions and guidance in the delivery system in Malaysia

Social Impact of Foreign Immigrants on Urban Communities. Case Study: Taman Taming Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

This study examines the social impact of foreign immigrants on urban communities in Taman Taming Jaya, Selangor.The scope covers the overall social impact on the presence of foreign immigrants on urban communities,family relationship,the relationship among the local community, the relationship between locals and foreigners,the acceptance of foreigners by local residents,sense of belonging and the safety aspect.A total of 95 questionnaires survey were carried out among local respondents.Besides,direct observation was conducted to investigate the condition of the study area.The findings revealed that most of the respondents felt that the presence of foreign immigrants has negatively impacted their life. Keywords: social, impact, urban, community eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI2.2524